Characterization of raloxifene as potential pharmacological agent against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants

The new coronavirus that emerged, called SARS-CoV-2, is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The identification of potential drug candidates that can rapidly enter clinical trials for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 is an urgent need, despite the recent introduction of several new vaccines for the prevention and protection of this infectious disease which in many cases becomes severe. Drug repurposing (DR), a process for studying existing pharmaceutical products for new therapeutic indications, represents one of the most effective potential strategies employed to increase the success rate in the development of new drug therapies. We identified raloxifene, a known Selective Estrogen Receptor modulator (SERM), as a potential pharmacological agent for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Following a virtual screening campaign on the most relevant viral protein targets, in this work we report the results of the first pharmacological characterization of raloxifene in relevant cellular models of COVID-19 infection. The results obtained on all the most common viral variants originating in Europe, United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa and India, currently in circulation, are also reported, confirming the efficacy of raloxifene and, consequently, the relevance of the proposed approach. Taken together, all the information gathered supports the clinical development of raloxifene and confirms that the drug can be proposed as a viable new option to fight the pandemic in at least some patient populations. The results obtained so far have paved the way for a first clinical study to test the safety and efficacy of raloxifene, just concluded in patients with COVID-19 paucisymptomatic.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Anticonvulsant Activity of Some Quinazoline Analogues

Aim: A new series of Quinazoline 4(3H)-one derivative were prepared by reacting quinazoline 4(3H)-one hydrazide with substituted aromatic aldehydes. Quinazoline is used as a potent pharmacological agent with various biological activities such as antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, convulsion, anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic. In this background, we have synthesized a series of Quinazoline 4(3H)-one derivatives (4a-4f) and screened for their anticonvulsant activity. Methods: In this work, Schiff bases were prepared by treating quinazoline 4(3H)-one hydrazide with aromatic aldehydes. Six compounds (4a-4f) were screened for anticonvulsant activity by Isoniazid (INH) and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced convulsions in mice. Results: All the compounds were given satisfactory reaction yields that representing the efficiency of the employed synthetic route. In INH induced convulsion model, delayed the onset of convulsion significantly 4a, 4b, 4d, 4e, 4f when compared to an induction control group. Whereas delayed onset of convulsion was non-significant for 4c. In PTZ induced convulsion model, delayed the onset of convulsion significantly 4a, 4d, 4e, 4f when compared to induction control group. Whereas delayed onset of convulsion was non-significant for 4b and 4c. Conclusion: This indicates the anticonvulsant activity to these derivatives which might be due to potentiating GABA activity in the CNS. This anticonvulsant activity was due to presence of electron-donating group like OH, NH2, OCH3 and electron-withdrawing group like CF3 at 2nd and 4th position of aromatic ring attached to hydrazide.

A Scrupulous Review on Multifaceted Pyrazole Nucleus as an Energetic Pharmacological Agent

Pyrazole represents a versatile class among heterocyclic compounds due to its impact in biological and pharmacological field irrespective of its scarcity in nature. From the structural point of view, pyrazoles are rather interesting and chemically it is known as 1,2-Diazoles.Also, it is a five membered heterocyclic compound containing 2 Nitrogen atoms. As per different studies, Pyrazoles and its derivatives own a wide range of biological activities like Antibacterial, Analgesic, Antioxidant etc. The main intention of this review is to run an overview of diverse pharmacological activities of pyrazole moiety especially antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, Hypoglycemic, anticancer and enzyme inhibitory effects.

Pain Medicine in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

A significant amount of empirical progress has been made in the management of pain over the last century,largely as a result of the introduction of a more effective pharmacological agent and the developmentof a better understanding of the principle of molecular development that governsits use. Much remains to be learned from the mechanisms and treatment of pain by researchers and practitioners. This review article will discuss regarding the important aspects of pain control in oral and maxillofacial facial surgery.

Idiopathic gigantomastia in a patient on polypharmacy

Gigantomastia is an uncommon benign condition characterized by massive breast enlargement. It is most often due to hormonal imbalance secondary to puberty or pregnancy, or induced by a pharmacological agent but can also be idiopathic. Herein, we report a rare case of idiopathic gigantomastia in a 46-year-old female on antiepileptic multiple-drug therapy who underwent total bilateral mastectomy to relieve associated pain.

Gemfibrozil-Induced Polyuria

Gemfibrozil is a lipid-regulating agent used mainly to treat patients with hypertriglyceridaemia, especially those at risk for acute pancreatitis. Like any other pharmacological agent, gemfibrozil has known adverse effects, mainly gastrointestinal, such as cholelithiasis, gallstones, elevated transaminase, and other non-specific symptoms including dyspepsia, nausea and vomiting. Other reported adverse reactions are dizziness and vertigo, myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, angioedema, urticaria and rash. As far as we knew, gemfibrozil does not have urinary tract adverse reactions. In this report, we present a case of polyuria secondary to gemfibrozil with a score of 9 on the Naranjo scale, and a literature review.

Registration of Medicines in the Soviet Control and Licensing System on the Example of the Cardiological Drug Trinitrolong

The article presents the history of the study and registration in the USSR of the buccal form of nitroglycerin (trinitrolong) in the 1970s and 1980s, based on a number of author's publications, documentary evidence and oral stories of participants in clinical trials. The specifics of the passage of the main stages of registration of a new pharmacological agent in the Soviet control and authorization system from the author's idea to the introduction of the drug into clinical practice are described. Some reasons for the lag of the USSR from the countries of the capitalist West in the development and introduction of new cardiac drugs are analyzed.